Shiri Appleby Movies
- 1988
This in-name-only sequel to the mediocre H.P. Lovecraft adaptation The Curse is a slight improvement on its predecessor, eschewing any trace of Lovecraft in favor of a standard nuclear-mutant-beast plot but imbuing this theme with a menagerie of brain-damaged setpieces. When the protagonist and his girlfriend stumble across an abandoned atomic test site, he's bitten on the arm by an irradiated snake-monster; in a creative but excessively grotesque twist, only the venom-infected arm begins to undergo the inevitable transformation into a fanged beast (sort of a reptilian variant on Bruce Campbell's rebellious demonic hand in Evil Dead 2), which leads to some unpleasant quirks in the young couple's relationship. Before long, the poor guy becomes a veritable snake-factory, churning out baby serpents at an incredible clip. The performances are quite good and the makeup effects (by Screaming Mad George) deserve credit for their disgusting audacity. Very weird but more fun than its predecessor, this is probably the film that Sssss! wished it could have been. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jill Schoelen, J. Eddie Peck, (more)
- 1987
- R
A pair of homicidal lovers is forced to match wits with an inventive psychopath who has assumed the identity of a small, coastal-town sheriff's deputy in a film noir tale of the perfect crime gone wrong starring Kiefer Sutherland, Beau Bridges, Joe Don Baker, and Michael Madsen. A mysterious stranger has killed a man who was en route to assume the role of deputy sheriff in a close-knit California coastal town, but his deadly ruse is about to lead him into murderous trap. Soon-to-be promoted sheriff Sam Wayburn (Bridges) and his mistress, Laura Winslow (Camelia Kath), have set into motion a devious plan to murder Laura's wealthy husband, Jake (Wayne Rogers), and pin the killing on the newly appointed deputy. As the incognito maniac arrives in the remote village only to realize he's not the only one harboring a deadly secret, sex, suspense, and death hang heavy over the heads of the scheming trio, leaving no way out but to fight for their very lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beau Bridges, Kiefer Sutherland, (more)
- 1987
A blushing bride (Melissa Gilbert) doesn't catch on that something's fishy when her new husband (Joe Penny), last name "Moran", introduces her to his distinctly Italian family, who kiss each other's hands a lot. In fact, she doesn't tumble to the fact that her "perfect" spouse is a Mafiosa until it's Too Late. Before she knows what's happening, the wide-eyed (and soft-headed) girl is swept up in drug trafficking. To keep the Italian anti-defamation league at arm's length, the producers of this film contrive to have Tony Franciosa portray an Italian-American FBI agent who comes to the heroine's rescue. Blood Vows: The Story of a Mafia Wife was originally telecast January 18, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
